Michigan roller derby league, beverage maker and care package company among finalists for national idea contest

LANSING — Three Michiganders beat out thousands of applicants to make the top 10 finalists for Staples' "Make Your Idea Happen" Contest.

The nominees are Lansing Derby Vixens, a roller derby league; Love Delivered...from home, a St. Clair Shores-based college care package company, and McClary Bros., a beverage producer in Ferndale. Prizes include business consulting, Staples gift cards and cash to help bring their ideas to the next level.

The Framingham, Mass.-based office supply retailer received more than 16,000 entries for the contest. Winners will be chosen by online public voting through April 16.

"The enormous response shows the creativity, innovation and spirit in the small business community," Staples Social Media Director Tim Williams said in a statement.

While the team is not a for-profit company, the group has a corporate structure and operates as a business. It brings in money through ticket and merchandise sales, and reinvests the funds into the team or back into the community. It's raised about $25,000 in financial and in-kind donations for local charities since then.

The league is starting to outgrow its practice space at the Westside Community YMCA in Lansing Township, said Coach Ryan Knott.

"We're looking at renting a space; what we would do with the winnings then is to create some infrastructure there to turn it into a sports venue," he said.

Knott said he didn't realize that Staples sells fitness equipment and first aid supplies, which he could use at the new facility. He'd also like to get new computers to track stats as well as video monitors for fans.

UPDATE: The Derby Vixens won the $15,000 first-place prize.

• Love Delivered...from home: Molly Ziske launched her business last August after thinking about college care packages that she'll eventually send her twin daughters, who are heading off to college this fall.

Ziske, of St. Clair Shores, realized that most other college care package companies only offered candy and snacks, so she started her own business to sell packages that also include cleaning supplies, toiletries and school supplies.

"It's going really well, but I want to take it to the next level as far as promotion," she said.

Ziske hopes to do some more professional direct mailing with the help of Staples.

• McClary Bros.: Jess and Josh McClary own McClary Bros., named after their twin three-year-old sons. About a year ago, the Ferndale-based operation started making shrubs, which are colonial-era tasting vinegars made with locally sourced fruits, vegetables and herbs. The shrubs can be used as cocktail mixers or to make sodas.

The couple has a 144-square-foot storefront and tasting room in the Rust Belt Market in Ferndale. They plan to soon launch a line of shrub sodas and open a new kitchen facility later this summer.

Jess McClary said she was surprised to learn that Staples sells commercial kitchen equipment, which she could use for her new space.

"We're just really excited about the exposure we're going to get from this contest," she said.

The public can view videos of each contestant and vote for their favorite idea through 5 p.m. April 16 on the contest website. Consumers can submit one vote per day, and they'll be entered to win one of three $100 Staples gift cards.

The top three winners will get consulting services from small business experts. They'll also get a combination of Staples gift cards and cash worth $25,000 for the grand prize, $15,000 for first place and $10,000 for second place. The remaining finalists will receive $5,000 in gift cards and cash.